Application Strategy 2024: Nevada mule deer

NEVADA'S 2024 MULE DEER APPLICATION OVERVIEW

Note: The application deadline for all Nevada species is May 8, 2024, by 11:00 p.m. PT. You can apply online here.

Alarming Information in Nevada

Once again, I'm going to place this at the top of this article because I want people to see it. If you remember, back in 2016, I did an article titled "The colossal backlash of feral horses on wildlife." That article looked at the population of feral horses across a variety of western states, especially in Nevada. I’m already working on a round two article around that subject, so stay tuned for that. But I wanted to present some new information I found when working on that article ahead of time.

Nevada’s mule deer populations have continued to decline over the past decade largely due to a lack of consistent precipitation, large-scale range fires, conversion of native shrubs to invasive grasses, and degraded range conditions from feral horses and burros. During 2021, NDOW formed a Mule Deer Enhancement Program (MDEP) to address declining herds throughout the state. The MDEP is a committee and stakeholder-based program led by teams of biologists from the NDOW and includes partners from state and local agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). As of this report, there have been over 17 new habitat projects approved by the MDEP Oversight Committee for 2022 and 5 new radio-collar projects to investigate limiting factors for mule deer. The MDEP program will continue to identify projects and funding designed to improve habitat and gain a better understanding of mule deer ecology, including predator-prey dynamics, impacts from competition with feral equids, and migration corridors.

The figure below compares the number of all Nevada’s native big game animal equivalents to horses and burros, 2008-2022. It’s very alarming!

Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife

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Figure 1. Statewide comparison 2008-2022 of the estimated number of free-roaming horses and burros to the biomass equivalent of all native big game animals in Nevada. Feral equids are disproportionately larger than Nevada’s native ungulates (elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope) because they never evolved in synchronicity with Nevada ecosystems that exist today. The graph uses the best available values and rates of body weight, forage consumption, and water intake among the 2 groups to compare “apples to apples” of the forage and water use of the equivalent number of native ungulates to that of a horse/burro. The green horizontal line is the BLM’s statewide Appropriate Management Level (AML) if horses and burros were managed in a “thriving natural ecological balance with the habitat” as required by The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-195).

New Or Noteworthy For This Year

Insider features

Hunt Planner

To aid in your research and planning efforts, we created a brand new tool for Insiders called Hunt Planner. This tool will help you be more efficient at planning for hunts and also keeps all your research data organized. No more notepads getting lost or headaches when trying to remember what units caught your eye during your research! Everything you need is always in one place at GOHUNT.

What can you do in Hunt Planner?

Point Tracker

Point Tracker allows you to enter the number of points you have for each state and species and, as you research through Filtering and Draw Odds, your point total will automatically be highlighted.

Antlerless draw odds

Remember that we have Draw Odds for female species on Insider. In Nevada, there are many opportunities for mule deer in the way of antlerless licenses for residents. You can also check out those antlerless mule deer opportunities for residents in Nevada by checking out this link.

Note: Again, antlerless mule deer permits are for residents only.

State Information

To view important information and an overview of Nevada’s rules/regulations, the draw system and bonus points, tag and license fees, and an interactive boundary line map, check out our State Profile. You can also view the Species Details pages to access historical and statistical data to help you find trophy units.

Important dates and information

*Applicants who want to build bonus points if they are unsuccessful in the draw will need to purchase a hunting license or hunt/fish combo license. If they do not, they will not be given a bonus point. Tag fees will only be charged if you are successful in the draw. You do not have to front tag fees when you apply.

Additional Application Opportunities

Nevada Silver State Tag

For an additional $20, you can select to be included in the Silver State tag drawings, which would make you eligible for the one permit per species drawing each year that allows the recipient the opportunity to hunt any public land across the state from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31—just like the governor’s tag. Make sure you click the box while applying if you want a chance to draw this amazing opportunity.

Partnership in Wildlife Tag

Nevada's PIW tags follows the general hunting season dates for the awarded species. There are 22 resident and three nonresident tags available for mule deer.

Nevada Dream Tags

Nevada Dream Tags are another shot at drawing the hunt of a lifetime for mule deer, antelope, desert bighorn sheep, California bighorn sheep, elk, and black bear in Nevada. Dream Tags are similar to SuperTags and Super Raffles in other Western states. This drawing is open to both residents and nonresidents, and you are allowed to buy an unlimited number of raffle tickets for $5.75 plus processing fees for each for as many species as you want. You can enter the Dream Tag raffle here.

Snowpack and drought report in Nevada

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but Nevada is the driest state in the nation at an average of fewer than 10 inches per year (and the only state to average less than 10 inches of rain per year). The national average for rainfall is roughly 30 inches.

2023 and 2024 has seen an influx of winter/spring precipitation that should greatly help out the native wildlife and mule deer in particular.

According to the Nevada SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent percent map, the entire state that is tracked is above 100%.

2024 - Snow Water Equivalent Map

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Nevada snow water equivalent update from April 12, 2024. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

2023 - Snow Water Equivalent Map

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Nevada snow water equivalent update from April 12, 2023. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

2022 - Snow Water Equivalent Map

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Nevada snow water equivalent update from April 12, 2022. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

2024 Nevada Drought Monitor Map

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Nevada drought monitor status map from April 9, 2024. Source: United States Drought Monitor

2023 Nevada Drought Monitor Map

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Nevada drought monitor status map from April 11, 2023. Source: United States Drought Monitor

2022 Nevada Drought Monitor Map

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Nevada drought monitor status map from April 11, 2022. Source: United States Drought Monitor

2021 Nevada Drought Monitor Map

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Nevada drought monitor status map from April 13, 2021. Source: United States Drought Monitor

The Draw System

UNDERSTANDING THE DRAW

For all species, Nevada has a random draw, weighted bonus point system. Every applicant who applies has a chance to draw; however, bonus points increase your chances over time of being successful. Nevada tag quota is approximately a 90/10 split for residents and nonresidents.

Bonus Points

Nevada has a bonus point system where applicants will receive one bonus point for each year they apply and are unsuccessful in the draw. You must opt-in and purchase a hunting license when you apply if you wish to receive a bonus point after the draw. Applicants who do not opt-in and buy the hunting license will not receive a bonus point. 

In Nevada, bonus points are species-specific. For example, you cannot apply bonus points you have accrued for mule deer towards an antelope or elk application. Applicants can apply for bonus points only if they do not want to select hunts. In my opinion, I feel it’s best to always apply for hunts and not points only, as you never know when you might get lucky and draw. Remember that the draw is a bonus point system, and odds are low, and you will receive a point if you are unsuccessful in the draw. 

The only reason not to apply for hunts is if you cannot afford the cost of the tag should you draw it or the time off of work. 

All applications, regardless of species or class, are assigned a random number. Applications with bonus points are assigned additional random numbers by squaring the bonus point total and adding one for the current year (however, only the lowest number within the bonus point application is used).

Bonus point example

Let’s say you have six bonus points for antlered mule deer, you square six to get 36 and add one (applicant with zero bonus points is assigned one random number) for a total of 37 random numbers, with the lowest being the draw number assigned to the mule deer application.

Again, if you draw a tag or if you fail to apply for two consecutive years, the bonus points will be purged.

Applications are drawn in sequential order starting with the lowest random number and then evaluated within the following group order.

Nevada's Draw Order

The draw order allows applicants to apply for all species and sex that they wish to hunt without the issue of drawing a lower-tiered tag. Applicants are only allowed to draw a single tag for each species.

Hunt Choices

In Nevada, you can apply for up to five choices when you apply. When an application is considered in the draw, NDOW will attempt to allocate the first choice. If all permits are gone for that hunt, they will attempt to allocate the second choice. If all tags are gone for your second choice, they will attempt to award you a tag for your third choice. They continue through all five hunt choices before moving to the next applicant. Thus, applicants could draw any of their five hunt choices.

IMPORTANT: Due to this process, applicants should include hunts for all five choices to increase their chances of drawing a tag. Also, applicants should stagger their hunt choices from what you consider to be the best hunt (worst odds) to a decent hunt (better odds). If you were to apply inversely (best odds to worst odds), you are essentially wasting your latter hunt choices. This is a strategy, that I personally feel will benefit you on your applications in Nevada across the board.

Group Applications

Nevada allows hunters to apply on a group application for deer, antlerless elk and antelope (horns shorter than ears). Residents and nonresidents can apply together on a group application. Doing so does not increase odds for a nonresident; the nonresident tags will still come from the nonresident quota. Applying as a group does have the potential to negatively impact odds slightly as Nevada will not over-allocate tags to cover a group application if there are not enough tags to satisfy the size of the group. Bonus points for a group application are averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, if a group of three applicants apply with seven, five and 13 bonus points, the application will go into the draw with eight bonus points.

The math looks like this: 7+5+13 = 25/3 (group size) = 8.3333 rounded to 8.

8 squared is 64 + 1 (this year’s application) = 65 random numbers generated for the group application in the draw. If the application is successful, all members of the group will receive a tag.

If a group application has been drawn and the group wants to return their tags to have bonus points reinstated, every member of the group must return their tag.

Secondary Draw

Any remaining tags remaining after the main draw will become available in a second drawing to both residents and nonresidents. If you apply and draw a tag in the second drawing, your bonus points will be purged. Online applications for the second draw are due by June 10, 2024 at 11 p.m. PT and results should be made available on or before June 21, 2024.

If you want to see what tags were available for the 2023 Secondary Draw, check out this article here.

Surrendering Tags

Within seven days of the results of the draw, applicants who successfully drew a tag can choose to electronically return their tag. Hunters who drew a deer tag can turn them back in up to one day prior to the start of the season. In this case, they will retain their bonus points and gain one for this year’s application.

Leftover and Returned Tag Process

Any leftover tags or tags that have been returned and were not claimed by an alternate will be listed and sold on a first-come, first-served basis on the NDOW licensing system site. The first come, first served program generally opens in early July. Bonus points will be purged if you purchase a leftover or returned tag through this process.

Remember: New for 2023, in order to purchase a resident returned tag, you must be a resident of Nevada. A nonresident of Nevada can only purchase a tag that was originally drawn and returned by a nonresident.

Applicants who drew a tag can return their tags up until one day prior to their hunt starting. If the tag is not accepted by an alternate, it will be listed randomly on the first come, first served list and during the First-Come, First-Served application period, it could then be added to your cart and purchased when it shows up.

Note: we will have an updated Nevada First-Come, First-Served article later this summer when that tag system opens.

UNLOCKING NEVADA’S SYSTEM

When people hear the words “Nevada mule deer,” their minds instantly might drift toward giant bucks and horrible draw odds. Both those statements are mostly true. It is the reason that Nevada should be considered a medium to long-term strategy when it comes to drawing a mule deer tag. Plan on investing both time and money if you want to get into the mule deer game of this state. While luck doesn’t hurt, most likely, you’ll be waiting a long time to draw a coveted deer tag. If you’re a resident, you have a few more options, and draw odds are in your favor, but it will still be a long wait for some of the coveted units of the state.

Nevada's Mule Deer Breakdown

Nevada has a great season structure with a variety of options to consider for mule deer.

Archery

The early archery hunt opens August 10 through September 9. The bowhunt can be a great time to hunt when bucks are in bachelor herds and more easily spotted with their red summer coats. Depending on the area, focusing your efforts on or around water can be effective. 

Nevada also offers late-season rut archery hunts in several units (season dates vary in terms of the unit). Odds of drawing these hunts are much lower than most of the early-season options, but if you are intrigued by hunting late-season rutting mule deer with your bow, the late archery hunts should be somewhere on your application.  

Muzzleloader

In my opinion, the muzzleloader hunts may be one of the best-hidden gems in Nevada. The season starts right after the archery hunt ends in early September and runs into October (typical dates are September 10 through October 4), which is a long season for muzzleloader hunters. The big benefit, much like the archery hunt, during this time of year, the bucks are still in their summer range and often maintain a predictable behavioral pattern. Bucks may not feed long after first light or for extended periods prior to dark in the evening, but they are more consistent and easier to see with the red summer coat. Hunters who have the ability to scout and hunt for multiple days have done remarkably well on the muzzleloader hunt. Be aware that temperatures can be high and the days are long, but the odds of drawing a tag are often better than they are for the rifle hunts. It’s also worth noting that Nevada does offer a few late-season rut muzzleloader hunts. The odds of drawing the best hunts within those are very low, but it is an option to explore. 

Rifle

Nevada offers a variety of different rifle seasons, with the majority of the rifle hunts occurring from October 5 through November 5. And even some hunts going from October 5 through October 20. Keep in mind that there are also some late rifle hunts that go through the end of November and some even until January 1.

CURRENT MULE DEER HERD CONDITION

Over the past several years, drought conditions have been hard on many areas of Nevada, and mule deer populations have continued to decline. That information shouldn’t come as no surprise. The 2021 population was 84,000, the 2022 population was 78,000, for a decrease of 7%, and currently, the 2023 population sits at 68,000 which equals another decrease of 12.8% compared to the previous year.

The Points System

Managing points and expectations

Maximum bonus points someone applied with in 2023 for mule deer: 30

Application tips for Nevada

A few of these are repeated from earlier, but they are worth mentioning.

1) Always apply for hunts and never points only. The draw is random; as long as you apply you have some chance.

2) Always include five choices for each hunt when you apply. NDOW considers all five of your choices, and your odds of drawing any tag are slightly better if you include all five choices.

3) With five choices available, the first hunt selections on your application should be for great hunts or the hunt(s) you desire most. The last three selections can be a continuation of moving toward hunts that have progressively better odds. The reason for this method is that you never know when you will be one of the first applications considered, and you want to draw the best possible hunt on your application.

What Can I Expect with Zero Bonus Points for Mule Deer?

Residents

When you compare the zero-point level for residents, it paints a little different picture than nonresidents. Residents have 27 different Unit/Unit Groups with 5% and higher odds. And if you go to our standalone detailed draw odds section and adjust the slider for draw odds percent, there are actually 11 Units/Unit Groups with 15% or better odds and three at 25% or better odds.

Options as a nonresident with zero points

If you’re just starting out, you’re most likely in for a very long wait. There are only two Unit Groups in Nevada that have draw odds for nonresidents above 5%. While your odds do improve as you build up points, most nonresidents will have to wait a long time to pull a tag.

We display draw odds for 149 nonresident mule deer hunts in Nevada. Out of those, only 20 have odds greater than 1%, 14 have odds greater than 2%, and 7 have odds greater than 3%. At 4% or greater odds, the hunts available drop down to four.

Again, there are 7 hunts that have odds of 3% or better. As you will see in the table below, there are very few hunts that have good odds at the zero point level. 

This is when a decision needs to be made. If you have no points, you will need to decide if you want to maximize your chances of drawing a good hunt and only include hunts from the GOHUNT hit list (or whatever quality hunt you desire) or if some of the hunts in the table below would meet your objectives. If you’re just looking for a chance to venture to Nevada and hunt mule deer, then include some of these on your application for choices three through five.

What Can I Expect with Five Bonus Points for Mule Deer?

Residents

At five points, there are 42 hunts with draw odds of 50% or better. See the table below for the potential number of hunts that meet these criteria.

My personal strategy would be to really analyze what I’m looking for. As a resident, do you want to stick with your plan and try to draw some of the more coveted hunts, or are there some hidden gems that you know about that might be worth burning your points on this year, especially when you consider the moisture we have gotten this winter/spring?

Nonresidents

Again, if you really want to draw a tag, even at five points, it’s best to stick to archery. With five points, there are a total of 7 hunts you could potentially draw at 45% or higher draw odds.

* At five points, a nonresident didn’t apply, so odds could be slightly higher.

What to Expect with 15 Plus Bonus Points

At 15 points, in all honesty, there still might be a long wait ahead for you to pull your desired tag. The table below outlines the number of hunts based on the weapon season with 25% or better odds if you have 15 points.

There are 42 total hunts with 25% or better odds at 15 points.

A different scenario. Let’s say you have 20 points and are looking for hunts with 40% odds or greater.

Keep in mind that without a maximum point draw in Nevada, this can be very frustrating for applicants with a lot of points at both the resident and nonresident side. The best advice is to think carefully about using all five choices at this point and ensure that the hunts you are applying for all line up with your current and future goals.

If you have a lot of points, and given the potential for it to be a decent antler growth year, keep your current path of applying for only the quality hunts and hope you get lucky! Best of luck in the draw.